Equipment: MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of a High-Resolution X-ray Computed Microtomography System with In Situ Capabilities for Multidisciplinary Research and Education

设备： MRI：第 1 轨采购高分辨率 X 射线计算机显微断层扫描系统，具有用于多学科研究和教育的原位功能

• 批准号: 2320640
• 负责人: Charlotte Garing
• 金额: $ 117.78万
• 依托单位: University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2026-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2320640&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Equipment; MRI; Track; Acquisition; Resolution

An award is made to the University of Georgia (UGA) to acquire a high-resolution x-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) system with in situ capabilities that will support the research, training, teaching, and outreach efforts of more than 30 investigators at UGA, Georgia Tech and Emory University in the biological sciences, physical sciences, archaeological sciences, geological and environmental sciences, engineering disciplines, and related fields. The ability to characterize internal microscopic features in intact natural and engineered materials in three dimensions (3D) and at high resolution will fill a critical gap in regional and national imaging capabilities. This specific micro-CT system will be the first of its kind hosted by an open-access facility, Georgia Electron Microscopy (GEM) at UGA. GEM hosts a wide array of highly complementary state-of-the-art microscopes that facilitate multidisciplinary use and interdisciplinary collaboration, and it will provide physical and remote access to high computing resources for CT data analysis. In addition to research applications and the associated training of student users, the new instrument will support UGA's academic mission by integrating x-ray micro-CT in more than 20 course offerings and numerous outreach efforts that target underrepresented students in STEM. Micro-CT demonstrations and modules will be incorporated in the existing activities offered by GEM, including tours and workshops, and the instrument will be used to acquire data sets and generate 3D printed models suitable for integration into K-12 lesson plans. This state-of-the-art micro-CT system provides exceptional capabilities for 3D microstructural analysis that include submicron absorption tomography imaging down to 0.5 microns, tri-contrast interferometry that simultaneously provides absorption, phase, and scattering contrast tomography imaging down to 3 µm, with sensitivity down to 0.3 µm, and an optimized design that enables 4D imaging of samples in controlled experimental environmental conditions. These unique capabilities will make a major impact on research productivity, directly supporting a large number and range of well-funded projects and enabling new, high-impact research that falls into three broad categories: (1) high-resolution imaging of 3D internal structures of biological, geological, archaeological and engineered samples for research applications ranging from developmental biology to functional polymers, (2) combining in situ experiments with time-lapse imaging to visualize fundamental processes, such as material deformation and fluid flow and transport that are essential to infrastructure resilience, sustainability of water resources, and plant productivity, and (3) acquiring data to develop the new generation of image analysis algorithms, phenotyping frameworks and pore-scale numerical models. In particular, the ability to perform phase-contrast tomography with the proposed instrument provides unprecedented lab-based micro-CT imaging of low-density materials, thereby pushing the frontiers of soft matter and life sciences research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

授予佐治亚大学(UGA)，以获得具有现场能力的高分辨率X射线计算机显微断层扫描(Micro-CT)系统，该系统将支持佐治亚大学、佐治亚理工学院和埃默里大学在生物科学、物理科学、考古科学、地质和环境科学、工程学科和相关领域的30多名研究人员的研究、培训、教学和外展工作。在三维(3D)和高分辨率下表征完整的天然和工程材料的内部微观特征的能力将填补区域和国家成像能力的关键空白。这个特殊的微型CT系统将是第一个由乔治亚大学开放获取设施--佐治亚电子显微镜(GEM)--托管的此类系统。GEM拥有一系列高度互补的最先进的显微镜，促进了多学科的使用和跨学科的合作，并将为CT数据分析提供对高计算资源的物理和远程访问。除了研究应用和对学生用户的相关培训外，新仪器还将通过将X射线微型CT整合到20多门课程和针对STEM代表性不足的学生的众多外联工作中，支持UGA的学术使命。微型CT演示和模块将纳入全球环境监测组织提供的现有活动，包括参观和讲习班，该仪器将用于获取数据集和生成适合纳入K-12课程计划的3D打印模型。这一最先进的Micro-CT系统为3D微结构分析提供了卓越的能力，包括低至0.5微米的亚微米吸收层析成像，同时提供低至3微米的吸收、相位和散射对比层析成像的三对比干涉测量，以及能够在受控的实验环境条件下对样品进行4D成像的优化设计。这些独特的能力将对研究生产率产生重大影响，直接支持大量资金充足的项目，并使新的、高影响的研究分成三大类：(1)高分辨率成像生物、地质、考古和工程样品的3D内部结构，用于从发育生物学到功能聚合物的研究应用；(2)将现场实验与时间推移成像相结合，以可视化基本过程，如对基础设施弹性、水资源可持续性和植物生产力至关重要的材料变形和流体流动和运输，以及(3)获取数据以开发新一代图像分析算法。表型框架和孔洞尺度的数值模型。特别是，使用建议的仪器进行相衬断层成像的能力提供了前所未有的基于实验室的低密度材料的微型CT成像，从而推动了软物质和生命科学研究的前沿。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。